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UCB is committed to understanding and addressing the unmet needs of patients living with thymidine kinase 2 deficiency (TK2d), an ultra-rare, life-threatening mitochondrial disease with a high mortality rate. According to a meta-analysis presented at the 2023 ISPOR conference, TK2d has an estimated prevalence of 1.64 per million people, with a range of 0.5 to 3.1 per million.  People living with TK2d face severe muscle weakness that can worsen over time and impact on activities as essential as walking, eating and breathing. To develop innovative solutions for TK2d, it’s crucial to understand the natural course of the disease, which is why we have focused on disease course research as part of our efforts to understand the landscape of TK2d care.
 

Understanding TK2d: a patient-centric approach
At the European Pediatric Neurology Society (EPNS) 2025 conference, we are proud to be able to share significant findings on the natural disease course of TK2d patients with symptom onset at or before 12 years of age, and qualitative work on patients lived experience, both highlighting UCB’s dedication to understanding patient experiences and outcomes through rigorous research.  The natural disease course study, funded by UCB, one of the first of its kind, is part of the largest international dataset on TK2d, providing crucial insights into the disease progression and disease burden impact on patients.

UCB presents qualitative narratives collected from a worldwide sample of patients and caregivers in a study that further illustrates the impact of TK2d on all aspects of an affected person’s life.
 

The value of disease course studies
Disease course studies are important for ultra-rare conditions like TK2d because these conditions often lack sufficient research, understanding, and data due to their rarity. The study looked at those patients with early-onset TK2d (symptom onset 12 years and younger) and found the disease was associated with high mortality and rapid progression of the disease, with many experiencing critical motor skill loss and requiring ventilatory support within a short timeframe. Our survival analysis research also found that the median time from symptom onset to death was just 2.6 years for patients with an age of symptom onset of less than 12 years, highlighting the urgent need for improved management and care strategies.

The disease course study utilized a comprehensive disease course dataset involving two literature reviews of published case series, case reports and a retrospective chart review study of untreated patients, and another set of pre-treatment data from three UCB-sponsored clinical trials and data from UCB-supported expanded access programs (EAPs).

This approach ensured robust data collection and analysis to provide accurate depictions of the disease burden. By deepening the understanding of TK2d’s progression, UCB aims to inform better supportive care strategies for people living with the disease.
 

A holistic approach to patient care
These research efforts reflect UCB’s patient-first approach, which goes beyond treatment to holistically understanding the patient journey, ensuring that the voices and experiences of those living with TK2d are at the forefront of scientific advancement. By prioritizing patient needs and experiences, UCB strives to help address the unique challenges faced by TK2d patients and their families.

As we continue to explore new frontiers in TK2d research, UCB remains focused on delivering impactful solutions that empower patients and improve their quality of life. For more information on UCB’s initiatives and research in TK2d, visit UCB Stories.

Milan, 9 July 2025 – Pirelli has launched the first standard production tyre for the global market made with over 70% bio-based and recycled materials, including FSC™ (Forest Stewardship Council™)[1]-certified natural rubber. This certification attests to the responsible management of the natural rubber supply chain, from plantation to factory. By 2026, all natural rubber used in Pirelli’s European factories will be FSC™-certified. Developed in a specific version for JLR, the new tyre is a Pirelli P Zero and will initially be available on selected 22-inch wheel options for Range Rover, forming part of JLR’s aim to roll out more sustainable tyres across its luxury vehicles.

The tyre will feature the FSC™ marking along with the distinctive logo identifying Pirelli tyres made with more than 50% bio-based and recycled materials, as verified by the third-party certification body Bureau Veritas.

MATERIALS INNOVATION

The development of the new P Zero put a significant challenge for Pirelli’s Research & Development department: combining Ultra-High Performance (UHP) with a high content of bio-based and recycled materials, which include:

·         Recycled steel, partially sourced from the melting of scrap metal instead of virgin raw materials, while maintaining the mechanical properties of virgin steel.

·         Rice husk-derived silica, obtained from rice processing waste, used in tread compounds to ensure high performance in the wet.

·         Circular carbon black, produced through pyrolysis oil obtained from end-of-life tyres.

·         Bio-circular polymers, manufactured from monomers derived from used cooking oil or pyrolysis oil, replacing fossil-based polymers.

·         Bio-resins, plant-based plasticisers that help optimise the balance between dry and wet performance.

P ZERO AND INNOVATION

P Zero is the product line where Pirelli debuts its latest technologies: this renowned accent on innovation makes Pirelli the preferred choice of premium and prestige car manufacturers worldwide.

Back in 2021, Pirelli produced the very first tyre made with FSC™-certified natural rubber. The collaboration with JLR represents a new initiative to increase the share of recycled and bio-based materials in tyres, marking another step forward in the journey toward sustainability. Moreover, this product will also serve as a testing lab for materials innovation, as the percentage of components with low environmental impact is set to increase over time.

In 2024, JLR became the first car manufacturer ever to equip its vehicles with Pirelli tyres containing 100% FSC™-certified natural rubber.

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Pirelli Press Office

Tel. +39 02 6442 4270

pressoffice@pirelli.com – www.pirelli.com

^[1]   FSC™ is an international, non-governmental, independent, and non-profit organization, established in 1993 to promote the responsible management of forests. License number: FSC™ N003618.

Natural rubber accounts for approximately 25% of the total weight of the tire (35837, size 285/45R22 XL P-ZERO(LR) ncs).

• Non-performing loan volumes in central, eastern and south-eastern Europe fell by 4.4 per cent to €26 billion in 2024
• Average NPL ratio down to 1.9 per cent – its lowest since global financial crisis – although supervisors warn of early signs of asset quality deterioration
• Market activity picked up in Greece, Poland, Romania and Türkiye, but investor appetite remains uneven

Non-performing loans (NPLs) in European economies within the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s (EBRD) area of operation remained broadly stable in 2024, according to the latest edition of the EBRD’s NPL Monitor, published today.

NPL volumes in central, eastern and south-eastern Europe (CESEE) continued their downward trend, declining by 4.4 per cent year on year to €26 billion in what is one of the most significant annual reductions in recent years.

Furthermore, the average NPL ratio in the CESEE region fell to an historic low of 1.9 per cent at the end of 2024, dipping below the 2 per cent threshold for the first time since the global financial crisis.

However, the report warns that early signs of asset quality deterioration are emerging, driven by sector-specific shocks, weakening borrower affordability and refinancing risks.

“While the region has so far avoided a sharp deterioration in credit quality, the risk of an NPL build-up remains,” the report notes. “Continued vigilance, proactive supervision and enhanced transparency will be essential to support the timely identification and resolution of distressed assets.”

NPL market activity accelerated moderately in 2024, with transaction pipelines expanding in Greece, Poland, Romania and Türkiye. Secondary sales and forward-flow deals are gradually re-engaging investors, although legislative barriers, data limitations and regulatory fragmentation continue to weigh on investor appetite in less mature markets.

The report highlights that persistent cost-of-living pressures are fuelling demand for short-term consumer credit, leading to increased supervisory scrutiny of affordability and origination standards.

In the euro area, the European Central Bank has embedded geopolitical risks into its supervisory priorities, including energy disruption and trade fragmentation. Supervisors are also intensifying scrutiny of unsecured lending and asset valuations in commercial real estate.

The EBRD’s NPL Monitor is a semi-annual publication under the Vienna Initiative’s NPL Initiative, covering 17 CESEE countries and selected non-CESEE markets. The NPL Monitor is published on the Vienna Initiative website, alongside partner publications prepared by the International Monetary Fund (the CESEE Deleveraging and Credit Monitor) and the European Investment Bank (the CESEE Bank Lending Survey), which are also being issued today.

The Vienna Initiative was established in 2009 during the global financial crisis with the aim of safeguarding the financial stability of emerging Europe by bringing together banks, governments, regulators and international financial institutions.